Garment-stretcher.



UNITED STATES' Patented March 15, 14.

JOSEIH B. MILLER, OF SEDALIA, MISSOURI.

GARMENT-STRETCHER.

SPEIFIA'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,478-, dated March 15, 1904.

Application led March 18, 1903| .To alZZ whom it may concern:

tains to make and use\the same.

My present invention relates to improvements lin stretchers, and more particularly to.

that class of stretchers designed for stretching articles of apparel-such, for instance, as trousers and the like-and, in ne, for -curing inadequacies which may have occurred by reason of usage thereof and to renew the appearance of trousers or the like and put them in a more presentable condition.

Other objects of my invention vare to provide a trousers-stretcher which will be simple in character, strong and durable in construction, easily operated and maintained, composed of a minimum of mechanical parts with a maximum of.`- eiiiciency, and capable of a wide scope of usefulness; and still another object is to provide an improved article of manufacture which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

`Other objects and advantages of myinven.-

- tion will appear from the following specification, the claims hereunto appended,w and the accompanying drawings, forming? a part thereof.

rFor a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich-` Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper sur-l face of my entire invention. Fig. 2 is a central .longitudinal section of my invention. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my invention, and Fig. 4 is a'detail view of the under side of the central portion thereof.

Similar indices referto and denote like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, I will describe the invention in detail as briey and compactly as I may. 'Y My invention contemplates, primarily, the

Serial No. 148,316. (No model.)

use of two clamping members of identical construction, except that one should be longer than the other, especially when constructed for stretching trousers or the like. The clamping members are united by arms, one of which extends inward centrally from each clamping member and at right angles thereto, and said arms are adapted to overlap each other and to be secured together at points desired, as will hereinafter appear.. Said clamping members each consist of a body-bar 1, secured in their centers to the ends of the arms 10 and 11 by the thumb-screws 12 and 13. Secured to the outer faces of the bars 1 are auxiliary bars 2, said bars 2 being secured to the bars l at each end by the screws 3, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The bars 2 are each in two parts, with the parts separated in the center and connected by a flexible plate 4, as shown in Fig. 3, by which it is apparent that the inner ends yof the bars 2 may be slightly raised and lowered, the screws 3 acting as pivots therefor. The inner lower corners of the barsV 2 are rounded, as shown in Fig. 3. From the'above description it will be seen that the bars 2 are formed flexible vertically and at the same time held in slidable contact with the faces of the bar 1 by the screws 3, as shown in Fig. 1. Belowthe bars 1 and the bars 2 are the clamp members 5, each of which is of a size substantially the same as the combined 'sizeof the bars 1 and 2, against the under side of which they are adapted to contact, as shown in Fig. 3.

' Into one end of the members l and 5 are cut corresponding-vertical slots 6, vand in said slot in the member 5 is pivoted abolt 7,which is adapted to turn outwardly from and out of the slot in the member 1,"and thumb-screws 8` are threaded onto'the free ends of said bolts.

On the opposite ends of the members 1 and 5 is a hinge 9, by which the members 1 and 5 are pivotally united at that end, while at the other end they may be secured together by the bolt 7 and thethumbnut- 8, as shown. The spacing-arms (represented by numerals 10 and. 11) extend inward, theformer from the longer clamp and the latter from the shorter clamp, as shown. One end of eachv of said arms is adapted to be secured to its respective member by the thumb screws 12 and 13. Through -the extreme ends of the arms and 11 are other vthumb-screws v14 and 15, whose points are adapted to contact with the center of the upper surface of the plates 4 in order that by tightening the thumb-screws 14 and 15 the inner ends of the bars 2 will be clamped against the garment, as above referred to. The outer ends of the upper surface of said arms 10 and 11 are provided with escutcheons 16 and 17, through which said thumb-screws operate, forming bearings therefor. The arm 11 has a slot formed centrally and longitudinally thereof along almost its entire length, and on the outer end of said arm 11 is secured fa loop member 18 therearound, providing a space on the upper side of the arm 11, through which the arm 10 may slide back and forth and be kept in contact therewith.

The numeral 19 represents a bolt passing l through the inner end of the arm 10 and through the slot in the arm 11, with a washer ..20gon its lower end, 'secured .bythe head of theb0lt, which `washer is adapted to .slide ,along on the under face of the arm 11. The upwardly-projecting end of the bolt 19 is threaded and carries a knob 21, adapted to contact with the upper face of the arm 10.

It will now be apparent that the thumbscrews`14 Vand 15 may be loosened, which will allow the auxiliary bars 2 to lay parallel with the barsl; but by turning the thumb-screws 14 and-15 theY points of said; screws will engage the top of the plates 4, and as said screws `are turned down the flexible Vbars 2 will be f bowed downward, causing the lower inner points of the bars 2 to tightly engage the members 5. l v n Operation: Supposing the device in the positionshown in Fig.r1, the operation is as follows: Thethumb-nuts 8 are loosened and the i bolts 7 turned outward, allowing the clamps 5 to turndown and back on their hinges at f the oppositeends. The legs of the trousers f 45 to be stretched should then be folded'together, with the 'seams on top of each other at the edges. Place the bottom or lower ends of the s trousersbetween the members of. the short .clamp above the hems and the crotch of the trousers between. the 'members of the long clamp. Then bring the clamping members 5 up against the goods, bringing the bolts 7 upright inthe.slots 6 and screw down the thumb-nuts 8. vThe thumb-screws 14 and 15 are then yscrewed down tightly, which causes `the inner down against the arm 10, which will hold the members in that position. The goods may then be dampened and ironed or pressed, if deslred, and again stretched and secured, and

they may then be hung up for the goods to dry and set in that position.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that I have produced an improved stretcher embodying the objects otherwheres referred to in this specification.

While I have illustrated and described the best means to me known at this time for car- -rying out the objects of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, butholdthat any slight changes or variations in such details as would suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic would clearly fall within the limit and scope of my invention. 1

Having now fully shown and described my invention and its application, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-y 1. In a garment-stretcher, the combination of a pair'of contacting arms overlapping each other and adapted to be adjustably secured together, the outer end of each arm carrying a clamping member, said clamping members being identical in construction but of different lengths and consisting of a body-bar to which said arms'are secured by thumb-screws, an auxiliary two-part bar attached to the outer side of said body-bars, its parts connected by a liexible plate, thumb screws extending down from the arms adapted to contact With said plate, a main clamping member hinged below and to said body member, and means for locking the clamping members in engagement with the respective body member, subL stantially as shown and described.

2. In a garment-stretcher the combination of a pair of main clamping members, arms extending inward from each of the clamping members, means for securing the arms together adjustably, an auxiliary clamp attached to the outside of each of the clampsconsisting of two parts united by a plate, screws extending down from the outer ends of said arms adapted to contact with said plate, and means for locking the parts of the clamp together, all substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

3. A garment-stretcher having in combination a pair of oppositely-disposed clamps connected adjustably by arms, auxiliary clamps attached to said main clamps adapted to clamp the goods between the outer ends of the main clamps, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH B. MILLER.

Witnesses:

T. C. HOLLAND, L. F. LovELAcE.

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